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This entertaining, concise collection will entice fans of true crime and history. Readers may also enjoy Mike Rothmiller’s True Crime Chronicles: Serial Killers, Outlaws, and Justice…Real Crime Stories from the 1800s.
This bizarre, gripping, yet balanced account of a charismatic man and an enterprise that prospered under the guise of religion will appeal to true crime fans and those interested in religious cults, including readers of Lawrence Wright’s Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief.
Enjoy this book in short sips—there is much to savor here for both true crime fans and lovers of San Francisco. Hand this title to those who appreciated David Talbot’s Season of the Witch: Enchantment, Terror, and Deliverance in the City of Love.
NXIVM has been covered extensively, but Berman sets her work apart with a deep dive into the history and growth of the organization and an empathetic look at the psychology of the victims. Given the wide interest in this story, this is a strong addition to true crime shelves.
Campbell’s reporting is top-notch, and he unearths information that will be new to the general public. A must for those still searching for an answer to the ultimate question about Madoff’s crimes: Why?
The rotating cast of unscrupulous lawyers may exhaust readers’ patience; as the author notes early on, there are no heroes in this book. Still, it’s an absorbing tale that’s sure to hold the interest of those interested in books on corporate crime.
A vivid portrait of the complications that family dynamics, religious considerations, and investigative errors produced to obfuscate justice, and the depths to which an abusive master manipulator is willing to go to continue that obfuscation. True crime fans will be satisfied.
An important book that will enlighten readers about the disturbing impact of gold mining in the Amazon
This volume packs a punch and gives a voice to those whose stories need to be fully heard. Libraries, especially those seeking to expand collections related to criminal justice and the politics surrounding issues of race and class, should purchase this title.
True crime fans and history lovers will appreciate this well-researched and nuanced biography of one of America’s most notorious gangsters.
An exhilarating yet intricate tale of mind-boggling fraud. Readers will be rapt; hand this one to fans of David Enrich’s The Spider Network: How a Math Genius and a Gang of Scheming Bankers Pulled Off One of the Greatest Scams in History.
Likely to appeal to readers of ghost stories and psychology alike, this well-researched chronicle pulls directly from firsthand accounts, interviews, news articles, séances, photographs, and other sources to provide as comprehensive a view as possible from this side of history.
Dark, foreboding, and emotional, this title is as gripping as a thriller and laced with cogent insights--McGarrahan stresses that sometimes there isn’t an objective truth to uncover. Fans of Michelle McNamara’s I’ll Be Gone in the Dark will be spellbound.
An accessible account that will make a worthy addition to collections on racial justice and police brutality.
Blending memoir with sharp commentary on social justice issues, Brooks’s empathetic work is ideal for readers curious about policing and police reform in the United States.
An interesting look into women’s lives in India. Recommended for readers interested in women’s issues.
PREMIUM
Criminal Justice in America: The Encyclopedia of Crime, Law Enforcement, Courts, and Corrections
This is a solid, browsable reference work that will appeal to the public and law enforcement as well as undergraduates focusing on criminology, sociology, psychology, or law.
With nuance and sensitivity, Machell has profiled a young man who, like a canary in a coal mine, offered warnings about impending financial, political, and ecological reckonings.
Readers curious about the dark side of wealth will be enthralled by this exposé of corruption in education.
In-depth and compelling investigative journalism that will resonate with those interested in organized crime and Chicago history and politics. Readers intrigued by this era in Chicago’s history may also enjoy Charles Hager’s Chicago Heights: Little Joe College, the Outfit, and the Fall of Sam Giancana.
Rosenberg presents challenging, provocative material in an engaging manner that will have readers pondering these issues. Anyone interested in the history of free speech and the Supreme Court will enjoy this extensively researched book.
This deliberate, beautifully written work offers a disturbing, clear-sighted look into murder on the frontier. Any collection of Western U.S. history or true crime is incomplete without this title.
The author’s anger at Conley’s glamorization within the true crime community is palpable. Still, though this isn’t the balanced account some might prefer, he presents the evidence competently.
This well-reasoned work will appeal to readers interested in bettering their understanding of Charlottesville, what led up to it, and its aftermath; the complexities of First Amendment doctrinal law; and the history of free speech. Recommended for general audiences, scholars, and practicing lawyers, this is a must for academic libraries.
Vronsky’s true crime writing is charged. When his target is ViCAP, it’s brilliant. When it’s university administrative assistants, it’s baffling. Although famous killers and their gruesome crimes get an unnecessary retread, Vronsky’s focus on the society that reared them is fresh
PREMIUM
Why the Innocent Plead Guilty and the Guilty Go Free: And Other Paradoxes of Our Broken Legal System
With some weaknesses in the writing yet with important insights into the future of the justice system, this title is best suited for academic and law libraries and public libraries with a devoted criminal justice or legal readership rather than a general audience.
Readers who appreciate a well-executed sting will enjoy this thoroughly researched yet breezy guide to notorious women.
PREMIUM
Killer Triggers
True crime stories with all the gory details, both aided and stymied by the author’s insights.
Highly recommended for true crime collections; fans of books and documentaries with an emphasis on forensics such as Making a Murderer and The Staircase will especially enjoy.
Gray blends an eye for gruesome detail with impressive visuals and a helpful bibliography to make this a popular addition to true crime collections.
Roth’s well-written, deeply researched work is a must for those in the criminology and criminal justice fields, but interested general readers will find it accessible as well.
Blending historical narrative and true crime, this is compelling reading for anyone interested in First Nations cultures or cold case research.
Bismuth has made an important contribution to the growing landscape of books documenting the opioid epidemic (Beth Macy’s Dopesick; Ryan Hampton’s American Fix; Ben Westhoff’s Fentanyl, Inc.). Readers horrified by the effects of the opioid crisis will appreciate.
PREMIUM
Jeannie’s Demise
A solid addition to any true crime collection, this work implores us to consider the human costs of criminalizing abortion.
This memoir about undercover police work will appeal to fans of Joseph Pistone’s excellent Donnie Brasco and Michael McGowan’s Ghost.
Whether or not readers have a strong grounding in the law, they’ll be stirred by the connections the book draws among Hamilton, current events, and history.
PREMIUM
I Have Struck Mrs. Cochran with a Stake: Sleepwalking, Insanity, and the Trial of Abraham Prescott
Ideal for serious scholars of criminal history.
Social inequalities and their effects on the criminal justice system are issues worthy of discussion; however, this title, which proposes largely microlevel solutions to systemic problems, adds little to the conversation.
Cooper’s suspenseful, intensely intimate work casts a critical lens on institutional misogyny. Sure to appeal to true crime readers, especially fans of Michelle McNamara’s I’ll Be Gone in the Dark.
General true crime readers should probably pass, but Lindbergh kidnapping buffs, media scholars, and those interested in media history will be intrigued.
Those interested in human rights, women’s rights, and the legal system will devour this uplifting and immersive book, along with the author’s documentary Motley’s Law and her TED talk.
With consideration and compassion, Montross has written a must-read that asks us to consider who our system is leaving behind.
PREMIUM
Poisoned at the Priory
Although the book is billed as true crime, this is a bloodless mystery that will appeal to fans of cozies and Agatha Christie, as well as those who enjoyed Eleanor Herman’s The Royal Art of Poison.
Bound to appeal to true crime readers, especially those with an interest in the intersection of crime and socioeconomic issues.
While James makes incisive points about the media, faulty fire codes, ambitious prosecutors, and sloppy commercial practice, his book is more defense brief than balanced recounting. To get the other side of the story, readers should turn first to John Barylick’s Killer Show, an attorney who represented victims in wrongful death and personal injury suits related to the fire.
An entertaining story with broad appeal for true crime fans. Readers looking to contextualize the ongoing opioid crisis may also enjoy Sam Quinones’s Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic.
Given the range of crimes, locales, time periods, and writing styles, this collection is uneven and the analyses often feel pat, if not absent altogether. For hard-core true crime fans only.
Dense with legal detail, this work is legible to general readers with a strong interest in thinking critically about the violent intersection of racism and policing in American life.
Fans of court dramas, turn-of-the century mysteries, and lurid true crime will appreciate this work.
A successful blend of history and suspense, this volume will appeal to readers interested in true crime and law enforcement. Readers intrigued by the Mad Butcher may also enjoy James Jessen Badal’s In the Wake of the Butcher.
Maroney has crafted an entertaining read that will appeal to fans of mystery and detective stories updated for a modern world. Those interested in pursuing a career in research and investigation will also appreciate this volume.
A focus on how killers are caught brings a fresh approach even to familiar cases. Ramsland presents concise, compelling examples of the progress of police work over the last century. Highly recommended for true crime buffs.
True crime buffs will be familiar with most of these names, but Fritsch competently captures the era.
Although intended for a general readership—lawyers will hardly benefit from the author’s minilecture distinguishing federal from state judicial systems
A well-researched and detailed picture of a crime emerging in an American culture corrupted by wealth and celebrity.
Despite the potential for offering scientific insight, this is a numbing account of already well-documented atrocities.
For fans of true crime, this book will likely reinforce the admonition of My Favorite Murder podcast hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark to “stay out of the forest.”
Thriller fans and readers who enjoy learning about FBI cover-ups or acts of domestic terrorism will devour this work.
This scholarly work will further and aid in-depth research on U.S. history, law, politics of immigration, and higher education.
This foray into the ideas that shape and sustain U.S. law and society offers significant inroads for readers interested in the progress and pitfalls of the U.S. criminal justice system, and how incidental and intentional actions affect historical developments.
Necessary reading for any critic of mass incarceration seeking to understand the myriad policy alternatives and the path to lasting liberation.
This true crime master expands the limits of the genre, digging to find answers and revealing that even the most horrific crimes are often linked to a larger story about America.
A captivating book that will entertain fans across genres with its seamless blend of true crime, biography, and art history.
Fans of The Wire, The Shield, and Training Day will devour, as will readers of true crime and students of urban affairs and public policy.
Sherman and Wedge have crafted a thorough, detailed, and gripping story of a larger-than-life crime boss who met a disturbing end. Compelling reading for true crime buffs.
Fans of novelists such as Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum, as well as military history and true crime enthusiasts, will find much to enjoy about this riveting read.
PREMIUM
The Perfect Father: The True Story of Chris Watts, His All-American Family, and a Shocking Murder
Fans of the Investigation Discovery show Nightmare Next Door are sure to appreciate this gripping read.
While not as detailed as Kerry Ross Boren’s Butch Cassidy: The Untold Story, Leerhsen’s biography is an accessible, quick read that is sure to delight fans of the genre.
Parrish is unable to take himself out of the situation enough to tell a coherent story. Readers will be unable to draw a conclusion and struck with disbelief that things could have been handled so poorly, as well as irritated that a large group of people were manipulated by messages from beyond. Not recommended.
Over the course of her investigation, the author falls down several rabbit holes following rumors, suspects, and other area murders, which can muddle the story at times. However, true crime fans who are fascinated by the dark side of rural life and police incompetence and open to a somewhat ambiguous ending will find much to savor.
This volume features a variety of perspectives and should appeal to advocates of U.S. social reform and those interested in the nation’s complex prison history.
Schechter’s expertise is such that three of his previous titles appear as works cited in this well-researched and gripping read. This fascinating look at the intersection of true crime and pop culture is a must.
This enthralling volume insists that there can and should be humanity within true crime. Whether readers are spellbound or disgusted by the genre, this is a must.
Gruber brings to light the ties between feminist movements and mass incarceration in this deeply researched, timely analysis. Likely too academic for casual readers, this offering is recommended for women’s, gender studies, and criminal justice collections.
Equal parts criminal memoir, history lesson, and travelog, this will appeal to readers seeking an immersive and intimate look at the drug trade.
This title will please Mafia fans looking for gruesome details, but collections that already have robust Mob material should skip.
A deft, fascinating true crime story of obsession for fans of the genre as well as those who enjoyed John Bloom and Jim Atkinson’s Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs.
At turns fascinating and heartbreaking, this expertly crafted history is a must-read for true crime aficionados.
This meticulous history of the hunt for the Unabomber will appeal to true crime readers who enjoy immersive scene setting and don’t mind a slow pace.
Not as lurid as the title suggests, this is a chilling look at a prison system unable to meet the needs of mentally ill inmates.
Ali-Karamalil’s overarching message is to use analysis for decision-making and action, and she provides examples on how to do so. Highly recommended for readers interested in learning more about Sharia and Muslim American communities.
A poignant work that puts a human face on the injustices of the legal system, best read after completing Billy’s powerful insider account of his mistreatment in prison.
The coordination that went into this operation is nothing short of incredible. Berg’s captivating writing and in-depth research make this a must-have for fans of espionage tales.
Goldstone is a first-rate writer, and this book’s readability makes it ideal for classroom use, though all readers will learn from the cases covered here.
Gill’s captivating, fast-paced narrative reads like a thriller and will leave readers wanting more. Highly recommended for those who love stories of espionage.
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